The Vote is Precious
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool
we have in democracy.”
– John Lewis
The first Presidential election in the United States took place on February 4, 1789. The winner was elected President. The runner-up became Vice-President. They were respectively George Washington and John Adams.
Voting is the defining element of democracy. It is the linchpin of democracy.
We vote to elect people to represent us in the Houses of Congress. They, in turn, vote to determine what gets done. Simple concept x complex issues = future results. (Your future results.)
The power of an individual vote cannot be overstated or underestimated and should never be dismissed. Here is an example that illustrates the point, courtesy of Warren Gunnels. “Democrats came within 2 votes of:
Expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision, & hearing
Extending $300 a month Child Tax Credit
Capping childcare costs at 7% of income
Free Community College
The last Republican President came within 1 vote of repealing the Affordable Care Act”
YES. Elections do have consequences. Odds are that at least one or more of the above-mentioned voting outcomes affect you or someone you know.
If one doubts the importance of voting, then I suggest looking at the current state of affairs in Venezuela. Venezuelan President Maduro has, since his election in 2013, established himself as an authoritarian holding sham elections and refusing to give up power. Over 7.7 million citizens have fled Venezuela. According to available evidence (much of it gathered by observers from the Carter Center), Maduro lost the most recent election held on July 28th. Maduro has yet to recognize the results of the election. This is what authoritarian politicians do.
Please Vote. Do not allow an Authoritarian leaning candidate who has only his best interest and those of his cronies as his top priority to become President of the United States. The Republican candidate in the U.S. election is an authoritarian wannabe.
Al Obert
